Improvement in ditching-machines



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W. SMITH. Ditohng-Machne.

Ne. 200,579. Patented Feb. 19', '1873' WITNESSES s ATTBHEYS.

MPETERS. PHDTU-LITHOGRAPHH. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.v

WILLIAM SMITH, OF OARMI, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN D|TC H|NG|V|ACH|'NES.,.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent` N0. 200,579, dated February 19,1878; application filed January 25, 1878. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SMTTH, of Carini, in the county of White and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following isv a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The invention is an improvement in that class of ditching-machines which have a vertically-adjustable plow or cutter, and an endless-chain elevator connected therewith, for carrying up or removing from the ditch the earth loosened and lifted by the plow.

The invention relates to the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the `accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, showing a front elevation of the main parts of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view, with certain parts omitted. Fig. 4 is a front view of the vertically-adjustable guidebar detached. Fig. 5 is a view of the inner side of one of the front grooved guides for the bar to which the plow is attached.

. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section on line :v :c of

Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fragment of the elevator-chain. FigpS is a detail view, showing the means for holding the drivingchain taut. Fig. 9 represents detail views of the chain-wheel.

The frame A of the machine is composed of two parallel horizontal bars, a, and parallel vertical front and rear guides, b c. This frame 1s supported upon the axle C of the transporting-wheels D, and the tongue E is rigidly attached thereto.

The plow F consists of two -parts-rst, a detachable point, d, having a straight front edge and vertical win gs or side ilanges, which act as cutters; second, a trough-shaped body or conductor, e, having vertical sides and an inclined vbottom or jloor. The point d is made of cast-steel, and the part e of castiron. The latter is provided with vertical arms, by which it is attached to the vertical bar G, that slides between the grooved front guides b of frame A.

The wooden conveyer H isrigidly attached to the plow F at an inclination of about fifty degrees, and horizontal bars I connect its upper end with the adjustable bar G. An endless-chain elevator, J, extends along the bot-` tom of the conveyer H, and passes around a chain-wheel, L, at top of the conveyer, and around a friction-roller, g, at the lower end thereof, as shown.

The elevator J is composed of two chains, h,

and connecting cross-bars c', whose shouldered ends are inserted in opposite links, and secured thereto by means of a wire or rod, k, laid ina groove in the bars i, and having its ends bent inward over the links, as shown in Figs. l and 7 v The cross-bars v3 serve as buckets to carry up the earth, and also as links, which engage the teeth of the chain-wheel L.

This construction of chain elevator has special advantages in respect to strength, lightness, cheapness, and durability.

The chain-wheel L is rotated, to cause the endless chain or elevator Jto travel up the inclined conveyer H, by connection with the axle C. v l

A grooved or chain pulley, M, Fig. 3, is xed on the projecting end of the shaft N, on which the chain-wheel Lis mounted. A larger pulley, O, is fixed on a short shaft, which has its bearings in an arm, P, that is attached loosely tothe axle, and isl hence free to vibrate around it. A chain, R, passes around these pulleys M O, and it is obvious the chain elevator L will be caused to travel when the larger pulley O rotates. This rotation is communicated by a pinion, S, fixed on the shaft of pulley O, and meshing with the large gear T, fixed on the axle. A

The axle is rotated by the wheels D, which have pawls e', that engage ratchets m on the former, Fig. 3. v

It is necessary that the chainlt should bekept taut, and for this purpose it is requisite the arm P, carrying the large pulley O, should be inclined more or less when the plowis lowered to cut the ditch deeper.

To cause such inclination, or, in other words, v

d the vertical, Fig. l, into an inclined position, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, I employ a radius-bar, W, which connects the two chain-pulley shafts, Figs. 3 and 8. By this means the large pulley O is kept at an invariable distance from the smaller pulley M, whatever may be the to throw the arm P over from vertical adjustment of, the plow and the frame H I G, connectedr therewith.'

To raise and lower the plow and elevatorframe H I G, I employ the rack n and pinion o, the latter being fixed on a crank-shaft, having its bearings in front of guides b on the horizontal bars a of frame A. t

The plow F and the frame connected therewith are held fixedin any adjustment by acrossrod, Z, which passes through the guides b and between the teethof the rack a, Fig. 2.

It will be obvious'thatthe pin Z is drawn out and reinserted whenever the plow is adjusted higher or lower.

To adapt the machine for traveling4 on the road, or to and from the eld, the plow and elevator-frameare turned on the cross-rod Z as a pivot, andv assume the position shown in dotted hues, Fig. 1, the slotted top portion of the guide-bar Gr, in such case, resting on and embracing the tongue E. In order to permit the detachment of the bar G from the guides b, I cut away the flanges or sides of the groove, Figs. 2 and 5, in said guides, at the` middle of the latter, lengthwise, and also cut away the guide-ribs of the bar Gr at 4the same point, Figs. 2 and 5. Then, by first detaching the radius bar IV from the shaft N of the upper pulley M, and adjusting the guidebar G and its attached plow F upward until the lower ribbed portion of the bar G coincides with that part of the guides b from which the ilan ges have been cut away, the bar 'G and connected parts can be tilted, as above stated.

The chain-pulley M will, in practice, be mounted loose on shaft N, and caused torevolve with it by means of a clutch (not shown) arranged to slide on a feathered portion of the shaft contiguous to said pulley. Thus the elevator-chain may be readily thrown out of action when the machine is not employed in ditching.

One end of the shaft N is squared, to adapt it to receive a crank, (shown in Fig. 2,) which is used, whenthe ditching is nished, to rotate the chain-wheel L, and thus cause the elevatorchain J to travel upward in the conveyer H and discharge the loose earth remaining there- 1n.

A suitable device will be applied to throw the pawls e out of engagement with the ratchets lm when the machine is not employed in ditching.

Those portions of the chain-wheel L which lie between the teeth thereof are beveledeach way from the center, to prevent the earth lod ging or packing in such intermediate spaces, and prevent the bars c' engaging the teeth of the wheel, in the desired manner.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that, in the practical operation of the machine, the plow F is set to cut the desired depth-say, from two to four or six inches; and, upon starting the team, the friction of the wheels D will cause the rotation of the axle C, which will, in turn, communicate motion, through gearsY T S, large pulley O, pulley N,

and chain-wheel L, to the elevator-chain J, `so

that, as the latter travels rapidly up the conveyer H, it will carry up and rapidly discharge the earth taken up by the plow. The earth is discharged laterally alongside the ditch by a curved chute, A', having a loop or socket, p,

Y at its upper end, which adapts it to be attached to the projecting end of either of the horizontal top bars I of the elevator-frame. Thus the VchuteA may be readily detached from one bar and attached to the other, as occasion requires.

A sliding weight, B', is applied to the tongue E, for use in counterbalancing the weight of the soil on the upper end of the conveyer H, since in heavy or wet soils the weight ofthe portion taken up by the plow in a given time will vary considerably.

The machine is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, and isalso light` and easily operated.

I am aware an inclined conveyer having a cutter and elevator-belt attached has been so connectedwith a wheelcdframe asto be adapted for adjustment vertically, and I do not claim y In my `machine the vertical guide-bar, with which the inclined such combination of parts.

conveyer is rigidly connected, constitutes,` together with the grooved guides of the wheeled y l frame, the part which resists the draft-strain incident to the operation of the machine.

Wh at I claim is 1. In a ditching-machine, the vertical guidebar Gr and inclined conveyer, rigidly con-` nected by horizontal top bars I, all forming y an adjustable whole, a'nd the vertical grooved front guides b 1), the vertical rear guides c c,

and the horizontal bars a @,forming the wheeled frame, and the locking-rod Z, all arranged as shown and described.

2. In a ditchng-machine, the combination of the plow, conveyer, and vertical bar, having a part of its guide-ribs cut away, the vertical parallel guides, similarly cut away, and

the pivot-rod, all as shown and described`,

whereby the plow and elevator-frame are adapted to be turned or inverted in position,`

as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a ditching-machine, the combination of the loose arms, the pulley and pinion con-` vnected thereto, the gear fixed on the axle, thel pulley fixed on the chain-wheel shaft, the ral dius bar, and the vertically-adjustable elevator-frame, all as shown and described, for the purpose specied. i

4. In a ditching-machine, the elevator, coin`` posed of two' chains, the shouldered crossbars, and the rods ,having their ends bent to embrace and clamp the links, as shown and described;

5. In a` ditching-machine, the chain-wheel` L, having its interdental portion beveled in the manner described, in combination with chain-elevator, as specified.

WM. SMITH.

Witnesses:

AMos W. HART,

'f SoLoN G. KnMoiy. 

